Great of the Union :: By Bill Wilson

Even CBS’s and CNN’s polling (always skewed sampling toward liberals) had to tip their hat to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The CBS instant poll showed a 72% approval rating on his immigration plan while the CNN poll indicated 76% approval overall.

Trump struck a tone of unification from the very beginning of his speech:

“Many of us campaigned on the same core promises: to defend American jobs and demand fair trade for American workers; to rebuild and revitalize our Nation’s infrastructure; to reduce the price of healthcare and prescription drugs; to create an immigration system that is safe, lawful, modern and secure; and to pursue a foreign policy that puts America’s interests first.”

Trump called for the parties to work together:

“But we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution — and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good. Together, we can break decades of political stalemate. We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future. The decision is ours to make. We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness.”

He characterized immigration policy as a moral issue:

“We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today, who followed the rules and respected our laws. Legal immigrants enrich our Nation and strengthen our society in countless ways. I want people to come into our country, but they have to come in legally. Tonight, I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country. No issue better illustrates the divide between America’s working class and America’s political class than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards.”

Senator Bernie Sanders bristled when Trump promised, “Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence — not government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.”

Therein, his entire speech was one of accomplishment and a call to unity. One that set America straight on what he has done, and on the incredible challenge he faces—a lack of unity. Sadly, this obstruction and hate environment will likely continue.

As Christ said in Mark 3:25, “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

At least Trump made an effort at unification and trying to work together; if it doesn’t happen, it’s on the obstructionists.